Child Maintenance- Family Court

andrew1977

Hi

Trying to help out somebody in need of help.

She is separated from the husband, he gives her some money (nominal amount) for maintenance for the children every now and then, some weeks he hands her nothing for the 3 children .

She wants to get it formalised once and for all and is looking at getting a maintenance order established through the family court.

There is a very high possibility that if served with the summons that he wont bother turning up in the court.

I assume her best option is serve the summons, go to the court and if a no show by the father of the children then the judge/courts take it over ?
How will they get hold of him and make him answer his case/come to an agreement over maintenance ?

Thanks a lot.

sexmag

It's quite standard that in a first instance they may adjourn the case and send another date to him.

If he doesn't show up again an order can be made in his absence or a warrant is issued for his arrest to attend court.

An order being issued will mean he received the order and has to pay manually to herself or the courts.

The warrant itself isn't standard where they arrest you and hall you up in front of a judge there and then. The guards try and get in contact and request he meets them outside the court and the judge confirms his presence and sets a new date for a hearing.

If the guards can't get a hold of him well your guess is a as good as mine